Liverpool FC are considering whether to send rising star Sheyi Ojo out on loan - with several clubs having already expressed an interest in taking the 17-year-old wide man.

The Anfield hierarchy was impressed by the development of Jordon Ibe during his loan spell with Championship contenders Derby and will look at whether a similar move could benefit Ojo.

Both Ibe and Ojo were among a Liverpool under 21s team which failed to catch fire in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at the Leigh Sports Village on Monday night, in front of an impressive crowd of more than 5,100 fans.

Ojo was well-shackled by eventual match winner Paddy McNair but that is unlikely to put off several managers who have been keen to get him into their squads.

League Two title challengers Shrewsbury are believed to have expressed an interest but Liverpool under 21s manager Michael Beale says there has been plenty of calls from higher up the football pyramid too.

Beale said: “Sheyi played out of position tonight to accommodate five really attacking players we had on the pitch. There’s a lot of interest around him in terms of loan.

“I think if you look at the game at Chester (Youth Cup win over Derby where Ojo starred) and tonight they were completely different levels. People have to remember Sheyi is only 17 and he’s still a scholar, he’s got a lot to develop and he was playing against McNair who is 22, there’s a big difference.

Asked about interest from Shrewsbury, who recently took under 21s wing-back Conor Randall on a month’s loan, Beale suggested there were other options.

“You might be surprised, there’s a couple of clubs bigger than that interested in him. We’ve got to make sure it’s the right thing for Sheyi and if he goes out that he’s going to play and if he’s not going to play, he’s got to get access - like Conor Randall tonight who’s at Shrewsbury - to come back and play for us.

“None of the players that go out, even if maybe from the outside it’s ‘oh, he hasn’t played every game or he ain’t scored a goal’ they come back better players, they come back more aware of what it takes, more aware of what a men’s dressing room is like. He’s in there (LFC dressing room) with a lot of other 17 year olds so who’s mentoring him in terms of a player?

“We’ve got a very good player on our hands there, he’s not the only one, we’ve got four or five others that we’re very keen on as well. It’s all about the decisions we make now for him and with him to help him get to the next level. But I’m certainly glad he’s in my dressing room and nobody else’s.”

Ojo joined Liverpool from MK Dons in 2011 and has recently spent time in Brendan Rodgers’ first team squad for the Premier League games against Burnley and Leicester.

In pictures: Sheyi Ojo plays for Liverpool U18s v Derby County in the FA Youth Cup